EXETER - Customers at Steve's Diner in Exeter often watched as Amanda "Amy" Warf handed off her little boy to her ex-husband, Aaron Desjardins, in the parking lot.

Week after week, customers say they saw the 36-year-old Desjardins, who most recently worked at the local diner, making the swap around 7 a.m. as Warf headed off to work at Exeter Hospital's administrative office.

Exactly what happened on the morning of March 7 isn't known, but somehow Warf's body ended up on the second floor of the vacant City Concrete building on Hampton Road - just around the corner from the hospital office where Warf was a financial counselor.

It was about 7 a.m. when prosecutors say a fire was set inside the abandoned concrete plant and Warf's lifeless body was discovered amid the flames.

Her former husband is now charged with first-degree murder, accused of slitting her throat before the fire. He maintained his innocence in an interview with the Union Leader three days before he was arrested Wednesday near his Epping home.

Authorities have not said whether Warf was on her way to work when she was murdered, but the Hyundai Elantra found parked outside the concrete plant at the time of the fire is believed to be hers.

Senior Assistant Attorney General Susan Morrell has not revealed a possible motive for the killing that came just as Desjardins and his former wife were working out a final parenting plan and the amount of time he would spend with his 11-month-old son, William.

Warf and Desjardins seemed to adore their son, but they had their differences long before William was born on April 15, 2012.

Their marriage broke down while she was pregnant and both found new loves.

With the divorce finalized in February 2012, Desjardins married his new wife, Sarah, a few months later and Warf had a new boyfriend with whom she was living in Hampton at the time of her murder.

Their divorce file revealed some of their disagreements and tension between Warf and Desjardins' new wife.

Last August, Warf filed a motion to modify their divorce decree that obligated her to continue providing his health insurance coverage through her employer, Exeter Hospital, and paying his premiums until 2015.

However, Warf asked the court to change the agreement because Desjardins remarried and received coverage through his new wife. She also learned that Exeter Hospital is self-insured and doesn't provide health benefits to divorced spouses.

In her motion, which was later granted, Warf stated that she was the sole caretaker of William and that she provides all of his care, housing and food and that Desjardins "contributes zero towards the baby's care, including zero in the form of child support." She also indicated that providing the healthcare coverage was a "financial impossibility."

Desjardins objected to her motion and pointed out his own financial struggles.

In court papers, Desjardins said he agreed to pay Warf $5,000 when their house is sold.

"At the time of the divorce, there was no equity in the home and by retaining the home, (Desjardins) took on a large financial burden to protect both (Warf) and himself from a foreclosure or bankruptcy," court documents said.

Desjardins also stated that his decision to take on the financial responsibility and agreeing to pay the $5,000 was based on Warf's promise to continue his medical insurance.

Since he said he has multiple sclerosis, "going without medical insurance would be extremely costly," his motion to object said.

Desjardins also stated that he's been "willing and able" to care for their son since birth but that Warf "has not allowed him to." His Epping home had a full nursery and at one point "had clothing and diapers that were bought for William that sadly will not be used because he has outgrown them," the motion said.

Desjardins also insisted that his ex-wife's claims of him "contributing zero" isn't true. His motion listed numerous items that he's provided for his son during his parenting time, including formula, diapers, toys, and a stroller.

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